Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Skin cancer and lumps in dogs with allergies treated with oclacitinib
By Lancellotti, Brittany A et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2020·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Age- and breed-matched retrospective cohort study of malignancies and benign skin masses in 660 dogs with allergic dermatitis treated long-term with versus without oclacitinib.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study looked at 660 dogs with allergic skin issues to see if long-term treatment with a medication called oclacitinib increased the risk of cancer or skin lumps. The dogs were monitored for over two years, and the results showed no significant difference in cancer rates or the average age at which the dogs passed away between those treated with oclacitinib and those who received other treatments. This means that using oclacitinib for allergic dermatitis does not seem to raise the risk of developing cancer. However, vets still recommend regular check-ups for any skin issues in dogs receiving this treatment.
People also search for: dog allergic dermatitis treatment · oclacitinib side effects · dog skin lumps cancer risk
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare the cumulative incidences of malignancies and benign skin masses and the mean age at death or euthanasia in dogs with allergic dermatitis treated long-term with versus without oclacitinib. ANIMALS: 660 client-owned dogs. PROCEDURES: Medical records were searched to identify dogs with allergic dermatitis treated for ≥ 6 months with oclacitinib (exposed dogs; n = 339) versus other available treatments before the introduction of oclacitinib (nonexposed dogs; 321) and with ≥ 24 months of follow-up information available. Nonexposed dogs were age and breed matched with 321 of the exposed dogs; data for the remained 18 exposed dogs were included in statistical analyses. Results for cumulative incidences of malignancies and other variables were compared between groups, and the effect of daily maintenance dosage of oclacitinib on cumulative incidences of malignancies and other skin masses was evaluated within the exposed group. RESULTS: No meaningful differences were detected in the cumulative incidences of malignancies and overall skin masses or the mean age at death or euthanasia for dogs in the exposed group (16.5% [56/339], 56.6% [192/339], and 11.2 years [n = 80], respectively) versus the nonexposed group (12.8% [41/321], 58.3% [187/321], and 11.8 years [71], respectively). There was no association identified between daily maintenance dosage of oclacitinib and odds of malignancy or benign skin masses for dogs in the exposed group. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated that long-term treatment with oclacitinib did not pose additional risk for malignancy in dogs; however, veterinarians should continue to observe FDA-approved label warning and precaution statements for oclacitinib and regularly screen for neoplasia in dogs with allergic skin disease treated with or without oclacitinib.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32808904/